Josselin.

Though Josselin provided plenty of distractions, especially with la fête de la musique — an all-day music festival with everything from light rock to traditional Breton dancing — in full swing, we were drawn to the comfort of our B&B, Le 14 St­Michel. Like the city, it mixed the timeworn and the contemporary.

The house, dating from the late 1800s, is replete with contemporary art, such as the mixed-media piece in our room that resembled the cabin of a canal boat, as well as traditional touches: gilded mirrors, an antique school desk and a framed metal etching of an old-time notary.

The innkeepers, Viviane Le Goff and her husband, Patrice, treated us like old friends and made sure we were well fed for our trek the following morning. Breakfast was homemade yogurt, light-as-clouds crepes with freshly made rhubarb conserve, fluffy croissants and fragrant Josselin-made honey.

Finding it difficult to leave this Eden, we eventually dragged our packs into their lush backyard garden for a few more minutes of tranquility — a quality inland Brittany has in abundance.

www.washingtonpost.com

Washington Post